About Robert James Luedke
Founder, Publisher, Author |
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Robert James Luedke’s search for spiritual truth ignited a passion to tell the story of the birth of the Christian Faith, in a way which would allow him to use his natural creative gifts to minister to young people around the world. In 2000-2002, his research into the scientific and medical evidence behind the last week in the life of Jesus, inspired him to create a trilogy of work which would be instrumental in launching a new literary genre...the Christian themed graphic novel.
Though brought up in the Lutheran Church, Robert lived most of his life as a skeptic. Prior to his becoming a born-again
Christian, at the age of 39, Robert spent 15 years in the secular comic book/GN industry as an author, illustrator, publisher and retail store owner. This was an industry and art-form, that held a special place in Robert’s heart since he was a child and his comic book title Template was recognized as ONE OF THE 10 BEST INDY COMICS of 1998 (by Combo Magazine). “All my early life I felt I was destined to do something special, something big that would have an impact on our world,” reflects Robert. However, after almost 20 years of pursuing his dreams through various business ventures after his college years, Robert began to become disillusioned and struggled with the very meaning of his life, let alone his higher purpose.
By the world’s standards, Robert and his lovely wife, Sandy, became quite successful through their combined business efforts. They had developed a very comfortable lifestyle. But his frustration with life was exasperated by the death of three people within a six month period, all of whom were all very close to him...his father, one of his oldest friends and a co-worker/mentor.
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“All the success, the money and toys we had accumulated, sudden ceased bringing me any joy,” comments Robert, “and I began to question my very existence.” So, through a Christian business contact, Robert began to look for his value in the one place he had never searched before...the Bible!
Through his meticulous research and almost a year spent visiting various churches and Bible study classes in and around Dallas, Texas, Robert surprisingly discovered that there was credible archeological and medical evidence that validated the Bible. For Robert this was the portal through which God reached out to him, for it said, “ Having belief in the story of Jesus and following God, was not an illogical leap of faith, even for highly educated men,” according to Robert. It was that message that sparked the flames of Robert’s Faith and was the inspiration for what would eventually become the foundation of the Eye Witness
series. “I realize now that the very meaning of Faith, is believing when the evidence may not be apparent, but for someone who was raised a skeptic…this was something I needed to make that leap,” states Robert, “and I wondered….how many other people were out there like me?”
In December 2002, Robert totally committed his time, his resources and his creative abilities to package the story of the birth of the Christian faith, (as told in the Gospels and Book of Acts), through the format of the graphic novel. Ever since then he has been on a Three-Fold Mission:
- Writing, illustrating and publishing the Eye Witness trilogy of graphic novels for young people who might not visit a church, nor read the Bible, but love comics and graphic novels.
- Getting in front of the media to develop recognition and acceptance of the format of Christian themed comic books and graphic novels, both with the general public and within the church.
- Reaching out to talented artists of all ages about using their gifts to Glorify God….the Theology of the Arts (see Robert's article).
Robert, his wife and two teen-aged children, live in Flower Mound, Texas (suburb of Dallas). In addition to his writing and
artistic endeavors, Robert has traveled around the country sharing his testimonial and speaking where ever possible about not only this developing new genre of literature, but how people of any age can honor and serve God through their artistic gifts in any number of ways, both big and small.
To schedule Robert James
Luedke, to share his testimonial, or to speak to your
youth group or ministry, about using their artistic
talent in worship or in witness...please Contact Us |
Read Other Interviews with Robert:
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